February 2012

Happy are we , O Lord,

to whom it is given to share in the sacred banquet of the Eucharist

so that we might cling with all our to You:

Whose beauty all the blessed hosts of heaven unceasingly admire,

Whose affection excites,.

Whose contemplation refreshes,

Whose kindness fulfills,

Whose delight replenishes,

Whose remembrance delightfully shines,

By Whose fragrance the dead are revived,

Whose glorious vision will bless

all the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem:

which, since it is the splendor of eternal glory,

is the brilliance of eternal light

and the mirror without blemish.

            (Words of St. Clare of Assisi to St. Agnes of Prague in the Fourth Letter, slightly adapted)

Daily excerpts from: The Third and Fourth Letters of St. Clare of Assisi to St. Agnes of Prague.

Daily reflections are taken from Bible Meditations.

Third Letter of St. Clare to St. Agnes of Prague

1

To the lady most respected in Christ and the sister to be loved before all mortals, Agnes ... now the sister and spouse of the Most High King of heaven, Clare, the most lowly and unworthy handmaid of Christ and servant of the Poor Ladies wishes the joys of redemption in the Author of salvation and whatever better thing can be desired. - When we possess inner freedom and self-discipline are we able to clothe ourselves with humility in our relations with one another. - Mark 8

2

I am filled with such joy at your well-being, happiness, and marvelous progress through which, I understand, you have advanced in the path you have undertaken to win a heavenly prize ... in following in the footprints of the poor and humble Jesus Christ. - Nothing is more seductive to human beings than freedom of conscience. How free are you? - Mark 9

3

I see that helped by a special gift of wisdom from the mouth of God Himself ... you have brought to ruin the subtleties of our crafty enemy, the pride that destroys human nature, and the vanity that infatuates human hearts; that by humility, the virtue of faith, and the arms of poverty, you have taken hold of that incomparable treasure hidden in the field of the world and of the human heart. - Only a meaningful life can impart lasting happiness. What gives meaning to my life? - Mark 10

4

Place your mind before the mirror of eternity!  Place your soul in the brilliance of glory!  Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance and, through contemplation, transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself ... - Sinners are lonesome persons who have cut themselves off communication with God and their fellow human beings.  Jesus came to call all back to fellowship with God and man. - Mark 11

5

Transform your entire being into the image of the Godhead Itself ... so that you too may feel what friends feel in tasting the hidden sweetness that, from the beginning, God Himself has reserved for His lovers. - Have faith in God, even if your case is hopeless ... He is not finite and limited in power.  Fear not. - Mark 12

6

And, after all who ensnare their blind lovers in a deceitful and turbulent world have been completely passed over, may you totally love Him Who gave Himself totally for your love, at Whose beauty the sun and the moon marvel, Whose rewards and their uniqueness and grandeur have no limits. - God will let us experience His presence, but don’t lose hope when things get rough. God Himself will provide. - Mark 13

7

I am speaking of Him, the Son of the Most High Whom the Virgin brought to birth and remained a virgin after His birth.  May you cling to His most sweet mother who gave birth to a Son Whom the heavens could not contain, and yet she carried Him in the little cloister of her holy womb and held Him on her virginal lap. - In difficulties: assess options, ask for competent advice and counsel, and most of all pray! God is with you. -  Mark 14

8

Who would not dread the treacheries of the enemy of humanity who, through the arrogance of momentary and deceptive glories, attempts to reduce to nothing that which is greater than heaven itself? Indeed, it is now clear that the soul of a faithful person, the most worthy of all creatures because of the grace of God, is greater than heaven itself. - Your relationship with God is two-way street. Failure can only come from you. - Mark 15

9

As the glorious virgin of virgins carried (Him) materially, so you, too, by following in her footsteps, especially those of humility and poverty, can without any doubt, always carry Him spiritually in your chaste and virginal body, holding Him by Whom you and all things are held together ... - Is your love of God alive? - Mark 16

10

Your prudence should know, then, that except for the weak and the sick ... none of us who are healthy and strong should eat anything other than Lenten fare ... we must fast everyday except Sundays and the Nativity of the Lord, on which days we may have two meals.  And on ordinary Thursdays, everyone may do as she wishes, so that she who does not wish to fast is not obliged. - Whenever balance is lost, we are in trouble. God’ will is sure and secure. -  Luke 1

11

But our flesh is not bronze, nor is our strength that of stone, rather, we are frail and inclined to every bodily weakness!  I beg you, therefore, dearly beloved, to refrain wisely and prudently from an indiscreet and impossible austerity in the fasting you have undertaken. - Gaze on the Lord’s glory, in the person of Jesus, and ask Him to guide you. - Luke 2

12

I beg you in the Lord to praise the Lord by your very life, to offer the Lord your reasonable service and your sacrifice always seasoned with salt. - In Scripture, God says, ‘I have chosen you. You are mine’.  Are we His? - Luke 3

13

May you do well in the Lord, as I hope I do myself, and, in your holy prayers, remember me along with my sisters. - We are related to God in a bond of intimate love. We should keep that love alive. - Luke 4

Fourth Letter of St. Clare to St. Agnes of Prague

14

To her who is half of her soul and the special shrine of her heart’s deepest love, to the illustrious Queen and Bride of the Lamb, the eternal King, to the Lady Agnes her most dear mother, and, of all the others, her favorite daughter, Clare, an unworthy servant of Christ and a useless handmaid of His handmaids in the monastery of San Damiano of Assisi: health and may she sing the new song with the other most holy virgins before the throne of God and the lamb and follow the Lamb wherever He will go. - Never grow tired of God and how He has blessed you throughout the years. Praise Him in all you do at all times. - Luke 5

15

As I write to your love, I rejoice and exult with you in the joy of the Spirit, O spouse of Christ, because since you have totally abandoned the vanities of the world, like the other most holy virgin, Saint Agnes, you have been marvelously espoused to the spotless Lamb, Who takes away the sins of the world. - We have dominion over all God’s creation, but only as God’s managers! -  Luke 6

16

Happy indeed is she to whom it is given to drink at this banquet so that she might cling with her whole heart to Him Whose beauty all the blessed hosts of heaven unceasingly admire, Whose tenderness touches, Whose contemplation refreshes, Whose kindness overflows, Whose delight overwhelms, Whose remembrance delightfully dawns ... - Is ours a responsible stewardship of God’s gifts? - Luke 7

17

Happy indeed is she ... who (clings) with her whole heart to Him ... Whose fragrance brings the dead to life again, Whose glorious vision will bring happiness to all the citizens of the heavenly Jerusalem, which (vision) since He is the radiance of eternal glory is the brightness of eternal light and the mirror without blemish. - Learn to listen to God Who speaks in His Word, Sacraments, Church ...  and through those whom we encounter each day. -  Luke 8

18

Gaze upon that mirror each day, O Queen and Spouse of Jesus Christ, and continually study your face in it, that you may adorn yourself completely, within and without, covered and arrayed in needlework and similarly adorned with the flowers and garments of all the virtues, as is becoming, the daughter and dearest bride of the Most High King. - We are consecrated to Christ Jesus and called to be His holy people. -  Luke 9

19

Indeed, in that mirror, blessed poverty, holy humility, and inexpressible charity shine forth as, with the grace of God, you will be able to contemplate them throughout the entire mirror. - The wisdom of the cross can be acquired only in patient prayer. -  Luke 10

20

Look, I say, at the border of this mirror, that is, the poverty of Him Who was placed in a manger and wrapped in swaddling clothes. - Sharing in love is the convincing power of the Spirit! - Luke 11

21

O marvelous humility! O astonishing poverty! The King of angels, the Lord of heaven and earth, is laid in a manger! - Sharing, especially of self, a sharing that hurts and can be a cross, is a wisdom, which many do not accept.  Yet it is that wisdom which is a convincing power. - Luke 12:1-34

22

Then reflect upon the surface of the mirror, the holy humility, at least the blessed poverty, the untold labors and punishments that He endured for the redemption of the whole, human race. - When we pray, we talk to God; when we read, God talks to us.-  Luke 12:35-59

23

Finally contemplate, in the depth of this same mirror, the ineffable charity that He chose to suffer on the tree of the Cross and to die there the shameful kind of death. - All spiritual growth comes from reading-to learn what we did not know-and reflection- hat helps us retain what we have learned. - Luke 13

24

Therefore, that Mirror, suspended on the wood of the Cross, warned those passing by that here are things to be considered,  saying: All you who pass by the way, look and see if there is any suffering like my suffering!  Let us respond to Him, It says, crying out and lamenting, in one voice, in one spirit: Remembering this over and over leaves my soul sinking within me! - Temptation to deviate from God’s wisdom is always present, be always on guard. -   Luke 14

25

O Queen of our heavenly King, may you, therefore, be inflamed ever more strongly with the fire of love! As you further contemplate His ineffable delights, riches and perpetual; honors, and, sighing, may you cry out from the great desire and love of your heart ... - Be grateful for the inner beauty God bestows on each one of us if we are willing to recognize and accept it. - Luke 15

26

(Cry out from the desire and love of your heart:) Draw me after you, let us run in the fragrance of your perfumes, O heavenly Spouse!  I will run and not tire, until You bring me into the wine-cellar, until Your left hand is under my head and your right hand will embrace me happily ... - Do we hope against hope, as St. Paul tells us, when things do not go as we desired or expected? - Luke 16

27

Resting on this contemplation, may you remember your poor mother, knowing that I have inscribed the happy memory of you indelibly on the tablets of my heart, holding you dearest than all others. What more?  In your love may the tongue of the flesh be silent ... - Let us joyfully live our life for God now and hope prayerfully that we may face its change through death with dignity. - Luke 17

28

May the tongue of the Spirit speak and say this: O blessed daughter, because the love that I have for you can never be fully expressed by the tongue of the flesh, it says, what I have written is inadequate.  I beg you to receive my words with kindness and devotion, seeing in them at least the motherly affection that in the fire of charity I daily feel toward you and your daughters to whom I warmly commend myself and my daughters in Christ. - The Spirit of God can only inspire you to the extent that you open up to him! - Luke 19: 1-22

29

Farewell, my dearest daughter, with your daughters until we meet at the throne of the glory of the great God, and desire this for us.  As much as i can, I recommend to your charity the bearers of this letter, our dearly beloved Brother Amatus, beloved of God and men, and Brother Bonaugura. Amen. - Hope, which deals with the ‘not-yet’, is in constant need of encouragement in order to remain alive. - Luke 19: 28-48